They support and challenge the school to ensure all pupils achieve well. School governing bodies are vital as they work strategically with the headteacher, to hold him/her to account and ensure money is well spent.

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. Previously governance was a hidden element of school leadership. Today the governing body is an integral part of school leadership and with the increased responsibilities and freedoms now being placed on all schools.

Governor services are provided by BDSIP on behalf of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The School Improvement Service Governor Services Team will support all governors and governing bodies to fulfil their changing roles and responsibilities as effectively possible so as to meet the needs of their pupils.

What governors do

Governors work as a team. They are responsible for making sure the school provides a good quality education. Raising educational standards in school is a key priority. This has the best chance of happening when there are high expectations of what pupils can achieve.

Governors promote effective ways of teaching and learning when setting the school aims and policies with the headteacher. Every school has a governing body. It will include:

• parents elected by other parents at the school
• staff governors elected by the teaching and non-teaching staff
• local authority governors
• community governors appointed by other members of the governing body, and usually, the headteacher

They may also include representatives from the local authority, church, charitable trust or business interests.

Special schools may have health authority or voluntary organisation representatives.

Governing bodies are responsible to parents and the community. Numbers of governors vary depending on the school’s type or size. Appointments are for up to 4 years.

Responsibilities of a school governor

The governing body’s main role is to help raise standards of achievement.

It:

• is accountable for the performance of the school
• plans the school’s future direction
• selects the headteacher
• makes decisions on the school’s budget and staffing
• makes sure the national curriculum is taught
• decides how the school can encourage pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural development
• makes sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special needs

Governor Net is a Department for Education dedicated site providing information and guidance for school governors.

Statutory policies for schools from the Department for Education provides advice on the policies and documents that governing bodies and proprietors of schools are required to have by law.

More information about governors training and resources can be found on the BDSIP website.